U.S. patent application number 13/314364 was filed with the patent office on 2012-07-19 for connector.
This patent application is currently assigned to MOLEX INCORPORATED. Invention is credited to Koji Chikano, Takuji Hanyu.
Application Number | 20120184127 13/314364 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46491102 |
Filed Date | 2012-07-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120184127 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hanyu; Takuji ; et
al. |
July 19, 2012 |
Connector
Abstract
The male housing of the connector includes a flexible brace that
extends in insertion direction of the male housing in a position
separated from the main body and is connected to the main body at a
front side and a backside of the insertion direction and has a
latching block that fits into a latching hole formed on the side of
a female housing, formed on a side separated from the main body of
a midway part, where the midway part can be flexibly deformed so as
to be close to the main body.
Inventors: |
Hanyu; Takuji; (Setagaya,
JP) ; Chikano; Koji; (Setagaya, JP) |
Assignee: |
MOLEX INCORPORATED
Lisle
IL
|
Family ID: |
46491102 |
Appl. No.: |
13/314364 |
Filed: |
December 8, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/370 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 12/724 20130101;
H01R 13/6273 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/370 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/62 20060101
H01R013/62 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 16, 2010 |
JP |
2010-280021 |
Claims
1. A connector, the connector comprising: a female housing; and a
male housing, the male housing being inserted into the female
housing; wherein: the male housing comprises: a main body that
holds one or a plurality of terminals; and a flexible brace that
extends in insertion direction of the male housing in a position
separated from the main body and is connected to the main body at a
front side and a rear side of the insertion direction and has a
latching block that fits into a latching hole formed on the side of
the female housing, formed on a side away from the main body of a
midway part, where the midway part can be flexibly deformed so as
to be close to the main body; and with the flexible brace, the
elastic recovery force in effect in the latching block by the front
side brace part positioned at the front side in the insertion
direction from the latching block is smaller than the elastic
recovery force in effect in the latching block by the rear side
brace part positioned at the rear side in the insertion direction
from the latching block.
2. The connector of claim 1, wherein a part of the front side in
the insertion direction of the front side brace part is narrower
than a part of the rear side in the insertion direction of the rear
side brace part.
3. The connector of claim 2, wherein a connecting part that is
connected to the main body by curving towards the side of the main
body at the front end of the insertion direction of the front side
brace part is narrower than a connecting part that is connected to
the main body by curving to the side of the main body at the rear
end of the insertion direction of the rear end brace part.
4. The connector of claim 3, wherein the thickness of the direction
orthogonal to the extending direction of the flexible brace and the
deformation direction of the elastic deformation of a part of the
front side in the insertion direction of the front side brace part
is thinner than a part of the rear side in the insertion direction
of the rear side brace part.
5. The connector of claim 4, wherein the thickness of the direction
orthogonal to the extending direction of the flexible brace and the
deformation direction of the elastic deformation of the connecting
part that is connected to the main body by curving to the side of
the main body at the front end of insertion direction of the front
side brace part is thinner than the connecting part that is
connected to the main body by curving to the side of the main body
at the rear end of the insertion direction of the rear end brace
part.
6. The connector of claim 5, wherein a pressed part that juts out
in the direction away from the main body is formed on the side away
from the main body of the rear side brace part.
7. The connector of claim 6, wherein the gap between the main body
and the portion on which the pressed part of the flexible brace is
formed is larger than the gap between the main body and the portion
on which the latching block of the flexible brace is formed.
8. The connector of claim 7, wherein with the surfaces that face
the main body of the rear side brace part, the portion between the
pressed part and the latching block is positioned to the side near
the main body or to the side away from the main body in relation to
an extended line of the surface that faces the main body of the
front side brace part.
9. The connector of claim 8, wherein: a raised part that extends in
the insertion direction is formed on the main body of the male
housing; a guide groove that extends in the insertion direction to
guide the raised part is formed on the female housing; and when the
male housing is inserted into the female housing, a pair of edge
parts that form the guide groove are positioned so as to interpose
the raised part in the displacement direction of the flexible
brace.
10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the raised part is formed
more rearward in the insertion direction than at least the latching
block.
11. A connector, the connector comprising: a female housing; and a
male housing, the male housing being inserted into the female
housing; wherein: the male housing comprises: a main body that
holds one or a plurality of terminals; and a flexible brace that
extends in the insertion direction of the male housing in a
position separated from the main body and is connected to the main
body at a front side and a rear side of the insertion direction and
has a latching block that fits into a latching hole formed on the
side of the female housing, formed on a side away from the main
body of a midway part, where the midway part can be flexibly
deformed so as to be close to the main body; and with the flexible
brace, a part of the front side of the insertion direction of the
front side brace part positioned at the front side in the insertion
direction from the latching block is narrower than a part of the
rear side of the insertion direction of the rear side brace part
positioned at the rear side in the insertion direction from the
latching block.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The Present Disclosure claims priority to prior-filed
Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-280021, entitled "Connector,"
filed on 16 Dec. 2010 with the Japanese Patent Office. The content
of the aforementioned Patent Application is fully incorporated in
its entirety herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0002] The Present Disclosure relates, generally, to a connector,
and, more particularly, to a structure of a flexible brace provided
on a male housing for a connector of a type in which a male housing
is inserted into a female housing.
[0003] In general, with connectors of the type in which a male
housing is inserted into a female housing, a flexible brace having
a latching block is provided. An example of this is disclosed in
Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-203717, the content of which
is fully incorporated in its entirety herein. The flexible brace
extends from the main body of the male housing in the insertion
direction with the ability to flexibly deform in the direction to
be closer to the main body. The latching block formed on the
flexible brace uses the elastic recovery force to fit into a
latching hole formed in the female housing.
[0004] In recent years, in conjunction with the miniaturization of
electronic devices, a connector with a low height to be used
thereby has been in demand. However, when simply lowering the
height of a conventional connector as given above, there is the
risk of not being able to obtain a sufficient elastic recovery
force in the flexible brace.
[0005] On the other hand, as disclosed in Japanese Patent
Application No. S61-063782, the content of which is also
incorporated herein in its entirety, a connector is disclosed in
which the flexible brace is connected to the main body at the front
side and the rear side of the insertion direction. However, the
connecting portion at the rear side is really nothing more than an
auxiliary provision, the connecting portion at the rear side is
narrower than the connecting portion of the front side, and the
elastic recovery force in effect in the latching block is smaller
at the connecting portion at the rear side. In this case, because
the connecting portion at the front side has a larger elastic
recovery force in effect in the latching block, a large insertion
resistance occurs when inserting the male housing into the female
housing as the flexible bridge contacts against the edge of the
female housing.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0006] A primary object of the Present Disclosure is to provide a
connector that can have a low height while also reducing insertion
resistance at the time of inserting a male housing into a female
housing, and can secure a sufficient elastic recovery force in the
fit of the latching block. In order to resolve the problem
described above, the connector of the Present Disclosure is
provided with a female housing and a male housing that inserts into
the female housing.
[0007] The male housing includes a main body that holds one or a
plurality of terminals, and a flexible brace that extends from the
main body in the insertion direction of the female housing at a
separated position. The flexible brace is connected to the main
body at the front side and the rear side of the insertion direction
and has a latching block that fits into a latching hole formed on
the side of the female housing, formed on a side separated from the
main body of a midway part, where the midway part can be flexibly
deformed so as to approach the main body. With the flexible brace,
the elastic recovery force in effect in the latching block by the
front side brace part positioned at the front side in the insertion
direction from the latching block is smaller than the elastic
recovery force in effect in the latching block by the rear side
brace part positioned at the rear side in the insertion direction
from the latching block.
[0008] In the Present Disclosure, because the flexible brace is
connected to the main body at the front side and rear side in the
insertion direction, the necessary elastic recovery force for
fitting the latching block into the latching hole can be secured
from both the front side brace part and the rear side brace part
even when lowering the height of the connector. Further, because
the elastic recovery force in effect in the latching block by the
front side brace part is smaller than that of the rear side brace
part, the insertion resistance that occurs due to the front side
brace part contacting the edge of the female housing can be reduced
when inserting the male housing into the female housing. After the
male housing is inserted into the female housing, sufficient
elastic recovery force is exerted on the latching block by both the
front side brace part and the rear side brace part.
[0009] Further, a part of the front side in the insertion direction
of the front side brace part is narrower than a part of the rear
side in the insertion direction of the rear side brace part. By
this, the elastic recovery force in effect in the latching block by
the front side brace part can be made to be smaller than that of
the rear side brace part. In addition, because a part of the front
side of the front side brace part is narrow, the male housing
easily inserts into the female housing.
[0010] Further, the connecting part that is connected to the main
body by curving to the side of the main body at the front end of
insertion direction of the front side brace part is narrower than
the connecting part that is connected to the main body by curving
to the side of the main body at the rear end of the insertion
direction of the rear end brace part. By this, the elastic recovery
force in effect in the latching block by the front side brace part
can be made smaller than that of the rear side brace part. In
addition, because the connecting part provided on the front end of
the front side brace part is narrow, the male housing easily
inserts into the female housing.
[0011] Further, the thickness of the direction orthogonal to the
extending direction of the flexible brace and the deformation
direction of the elastic deformation of the part of the front side
in the insertion direction of the front side brace part is thinner
than the part of the rear side in the insertion direction of the
rear side brace part. By this, the elastic recovery force in effect
in the latching block by the front side brace part can be made to
be smaller than that of the rear side brace part. In addition,
because a part of the front side of the front side brace part is
thin, the male housing easily inserts into the female housing.
[0012] Further, the thickness of the direction orthogonal to the
extending direction of the flexible brace and the deformation
direction of the elastic deformation of the connecting part that is
connected to the main body by curving to the side of the main body
at the front end of insertion direction of the front side brace
part is thinner than the connecting part that is connected to the
main body by curving to the side of the main body at the rear end
of the insertion direction of the rear end brace part. By this, the
elastic recovery force in effect in the latching block by the front
side brace part can be made to be smaller than that of the rear
side brace part. In addition, because the connecting part provided
on the front end of the front side brace part is thin, the male
housing easily inserts into the female housing.
[0013] In addition, a pressed part that juts out in the direction
away from the main body is formed on the side away from the main
body of the rear side brace part. Thus, the fit of the latching
block into the latching hole can be released by pressing the
pressed part in the direction to be closer to the main body.
[0014] Further, the gap between the main body and the portion on
which the pressed part of the flexible brace is formed may be
larger than the gap between the main body and the portion on which
the latching block of the flexible brace is formed. By this, the
displacement distance of the pressed part can be sufficiently
secured.
[0015] Further, of the surfaces that face the main body of the rear
side brace part, the portion between the pressed part and the
latching block may be positioned to the side near the main body or
to the side away from the main body in relation to an extended line
of the surface that faces the main body of the front side brace
part. By doing so, the position where the flexible brace has the
most bend can be adjusted in the insertion direction when the
pressed part is pressed. For example, as the position where the
flexible brace has the most bend gets closer to the latching block,
releasing the fit between the latching block and the latching hole
becomes easier.
[0016] Further, a raised part that extends in the insertion
direction is formed on the main body of the male housing, and a
guide groove that extends in the insertion direction to guide the
raised part is formed on the female housing, and when the male
housing is inserted into the female housing, a pair of edge parts
that form the guide groove are positioned so as to interpose the
raised part in the displacement direction of the flexible brace.
Thus, the releasing of the fit between the latching block and the
latching hole can be suppressed when a force in the displacement
direction of the flexible brace is applied to the male housing.
[0017] In addition, the raised part is preferably formed more
rearward of the insertion direction then at least the latching
block. By doing so, the releasing of the fit between the latching
block and the latching hole can be particularly suppressed when a
force in a rotational direction within a plane that includes the
displacement direction of the flexible brace is applied to the male
housing.
[0018] Accordingly, the connector of the Present Disclosure is
provided with a female housing and a male housing that inserts into
the female housing. The male housing includes a main body that
holds one or a plurality of terminals, and a flexible brace that
extends from the main body in the insertion direction of the female
housing at a separated position. The flexible brace is connected to
the main body at the front side and the rear side of the insertion
direction and has a latching block that fits into a latching hole
formed on the side of the female housing, formed on a side
separated from the main body of a midway part, where the midway
part can be flexibly deformed so as to be close to the main body.
With the flexible brace, a part of the front side of the insertion
direction of the front side brace part positioned at the front side
in the insertion direction from the latching block is narrower than
a part of the rear side of the insertion direction of the rear side
brace part positioned at the rear side in the insertion direction
from the latching block.
[0019] With the Present Disclosure, because the flexible brace is
connected to the main body at the front side and rear side in the
insertion direction, the necessary elastic recovery force for
fitting the latching block into the latching hole can be secured
from both the front side brace part and the rear side brace part
even when lowering the height of the connector. Further, because
the elastic recovery force in effect in the latching block by the
front side brace part is smaller than that of the rear side brace
part, the insertion resistance that occurs due to the front side
brace part contacting the edge of the female housing can be reduced
when inserting the male housing into the female housing. After the
male housing is inserted into the female housing, sufficient
elastic recovery force is exerted on the latching block by both the
front side brace part and the rear side brace part. In addition,
because a part of the front side of the front side brace part is
narrow, the male housing easily inserts into the female
housing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0020] The organization and manner of the structure and operation
of the Present Disclosure, together with further objects and
advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the
following Detailed Description, taken in connection with the
accompanying Figures, wherein like reference numerals identify like
elements, and in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pre-connected state of the
connector according to the Present Disclosure;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a post-connected state of
the connector of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a female housing contained in the
connector of FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a lateral view of a female housing in which the
connector of FIG. 1 is contained; and
[0025] FIG. 5 is a magnified view of the essential parts of FIG.
3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] While the Present Disclosure may be susceptible to
embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the Figures, and
will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments, with the
understanding that the disclosure is to be considered an
exemplification of the principles of the Present Disclosure, and is
not intended to limit the Present Disclosure to that as
illustrated.
[0027] As such, references to a feature or aspect are intended to
describe a feature or aspect of an example of the Present
Disclosure, not to imply that every embodiment thereof must have
the described feature or aspect. Furthermore, it should be noted
that the description illustrates a number of features. While
certain features have been combined together to illustrate
potential system designs, those features may also be used in other
combinations not expressly disclosed. Thus, the depicted
combinations are not intended to be limiting, unless otherwise
noted.
[0028] In the embodiments illustrated in the Figures,
representations of directions such as up, down, left, right, front
and rear, used for explaining the structure and movement of the
various elements of the Present Disclosure, are not absolute, but
relative. These representations are appropriate when the elements
are in the position shown in the Figures. If the description of the
position of the elements changes, however, these representations
are to be changed accordingly.
[0029] Connector 1, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, is provided with a
female connector 2 and a male connector 3 inserted therein. Arrow I
in FIG. 1 indicates the insertion direction. Hereinafter, the
insertion direction of the male connector 3 is the front direction
and the extraction direction is the rear direction. Further, of the
directions that are orthogonal to the insertion direction of the
male connector 3, the direction in which the width of the male
connector 3 is longer is the lateral direction, and the direction
in which the width is shorter is the vertical direction.
[0030] The female connector 2 is provided with a female housing 20
formed from an insulating material, and support fittings 23 made of
a folded metal thin plate and is attached onto a circuit substrate
(not illustrated). The female housing 20 is short in the vertical
direction and is formed in the shape of a flat rectangular box with
the inside hollow, and an insertion opening 20r that opens to the
rear is formed on the back side part.
[0031] A plurality of terminals not illustrated is housed on the
inside of the female housing 20.
[0032] These terminals are electrically connected to a plurality of
terminals formed on the top surface of the circuit substrate (not
illustrated). Note that, without restriction to this example,
terminals formed on the top surface of the circuit substrate may be
used as the terminals for connection without housing the terminals
inside the female housing 20.
[0033] The support fittings 23 are fitted to the left and right end
parts on the inside of the female housing 20. The support fittings
20 include and attaching part 231 that extends outward from the
left and right side walls of the female housing 20, and these
attaching parts 231 are bonded to the circuit substrate (not
illustrated). The back end part of the support fitting 20 is bent
in a U shape, and latching holes 23a are formed at the portion that
overlaps with the left and right side walls of the female housing
20. A plurality of guide grooves 20a that extend in the front to
back direction with the back end open and penetrate in the vertical
direction are formed separated in the left and right directions to
the back half part of the upper wall of the female housing 20.
Further, a rectangular latching groove 20b that penetrates in the
vertical direction is formed in the center part of the upper wall
of the female housing 20.
[0034] The male connector 3 is provided with a male housing 30
formed from an insulating material. The male housing 30 is provided
with a schematically plate shaped main body 32 that is short in the
vertical direction and flexible braces 34 provided on both left and
right sides of the main body 32. A plurality of insertion holes 32a
is formed on the back end of the main body 32, and terminals 92 are
attached to the tip ends of wires 91 are inserted into the
insertion holes 32a.
[0035] As illustrated in FIGS. 3-4, the main body 32 of the male
housing 30 is provided with a front part 321 and a rear part 323
that is thicker than the front part 321. Of these, the front part
321 is inserted into the female housing 20, and the rear part 323
is not inserted into the female housing 20 (see FIGS. 1-2). At this
time, the front end 324 of the rear part 323 mutually faces the
rear edge 202 of the female housing 20. Note that the main body 32
holds the terminals 92, and as long as contact can be made with the
terminals of the other part, the shape thereof is not particularly
restricted.
[0036] Raised parts 325 that are extended in the front-rear
direction and protrude upwards are formed on the left and right end
parts of the upper surface of the main body 32, and are
successively formed with the rear part 323 and extend from the rear
part 323 more forward than the latching block 346 (described
below). Further, raised parts 327 having slanted surfaces to the
front and rear are formed in the center of the front side of the
top surface of the main body 32.
[0037] The flexible braces 34 extend in the front to rear direction
in a position that is separated to the outside of the left and
right direction from the main body 32, and gaps 33a are formed
between the flexible braces 34 and the main body 32. The front end
part and the backend part of these flexible braces 34 curve to the
side of the main body 32 and are integrally connected to the main
body 32. By so doing, the flexible braces 34 are made with the
ability to flexibly deform to the inside in the left and right
direction so that the midway part 345 can get close to the main
body 32, and they are made with the ability to elastically recover
to the outside in the left and right directions so that the midway
part 345 can separate from the main body 32. The midway part 345 is
positioned between the front end part connected to the main body 32
of the flexible brace 34 and the backend part.
[0038] The latching blocks 346 that project to the outside in the
left-right direction and are formed on the surface of the outside
of the left-right direction of the midway parts 345 of the latching
blocks 34. Further, pressed parts 347 that jut out to the outside
and the left-right direction further then the latching blocks 346
are formed to the rear of the latching blocks 346. The pressed
parts 347 receive pressure, and have a thickness in the vertical
direction that is larger compared to the portion that is more
forward than the pressed parts 347 of the flexible braces 34. The
position in the front to rear direction of the front end 348 of the
pressed part 347 is nearly the same as the front end 324 of the
rear part 323 of the main body 32, and when the male housing 30 is
inserted into the female housing 20, the front end 348 of the
pressed part 347 also mutually faces the rear edge 202 of the
female housing 20 (see FIGS. 1-2). Here, in regard to the flexible
braces 34, the portion to the front side of the latching block 346
is the front side brace part 341, and the portion to the rear side
of the latching block 346 is the rear side brace part 343.
[0039] Further, the front side brace part 341 includes an extending
part 341a that extends in the front to rear direction forward of
the latching block 346, a tip end part 341b placed forward of the
extending part 341a and having a reduced thickness moving toward
the front, and a connecting part 341c that is connected to the main
body 32 by curving to the side of the main body 32 from the tip end
part 341b. Because the thickness of the tip end part 341b is
reduced and the connecting part 341c is thinly formed, insertion
into the female connector 2 is made easy. Further, because a
tapered surface 341e is formed on the front side of the upper
surface of the connecting part 341c, insertion into the female
connector 2 is further made easier. In the present example, the
connecting part 341c, of the front side brace part 341, that is
connected to the main body 32 indicates the portion that is curved
to face the side of the main body 32 from the extending direction
of the flexible brace 34. The curved connecting part 341c is the
primary source of the elastic recovery force of the front side
brace part 341.
[0040] The rear side brace part 343 includes an extending part 343a
that extends in the front to rear direction between the latching
block 346 and the pressed part 347, a thick part 343b placed
rearward of the pressed part 347 and having a thickness in the
vertical direction similar to that as the pressed part 347, and a
connecting part 343c that is connected to the main body 32 by
curving to the side of the main body 32 from the thick part 343b.
The back end part of the extending part 343a widens upward and
outward in the lateral direction to get close to the pressed part
347. Thus, the deformation of the surroundings of the pressed part
347 can be suppressed when the pressed part 347 is pressed because
the front and rear of the pressed part 347 is formed to be
comparatively thicker. Therefore, a sufficient reactive force can
be exerted even if the pressed part 347 receives an unintentional
external force. Here, the connecting part 343c, of the rear side
brace part 343, connected to the main body 32 indicates the portion
that is curved to face the side of the main body 32 from the
extending direction of the flexible brace 34. The curved connecting
part 343c is the primary source of the elastic recovery force of
the rear side brace part 343.
[0041] When comparing the side base parts 341, 343, the tip end
part 341b and the connecting part 341c of the front side brace part
341 is narrower and the thickness in the vertical direction is
thinner than the thick part 343b and the connecting part 343c of
the rear side brace part 343. As a result, the elastic recovery
force and effect in the latching block 346 by the front side brace
part 341 is smaller than the elastic recovery force in effect in
the latching block 346 by the rear side brace part 343. The elastic
recovery force can be adjusted primarily by the fatness and
thickness of the connecting parts 341c, 343c, and without being
limited to that, also the elastic recovery force can also be
adjusted by the fatness and the thickness of the linear portions of
the flexible brace 34, which is to say the tip end part 341b and
the thick part 343b.
[0042] In addition, when comparing the mutual connecting parts
341c, 343c, the thickness in the front to rear direction of both
are nearly the same, while the thickness Tf in the vertical
direction of the connecting part 341c of the front side brace part
341 is smaller than the thickness Tr in the vertical direction of
the connecting part 343c of the rear side brace part 343c.
Therefore, the connecting part 341c of the front side brace part
341 is narrower, which is to say that the cross-sectional area is
smaller, than the connecting part 343c of the rear side brace part
343. The cross section of the connecting parts 341c, 343c in FIG. 4
is shown by the hatching of the dotted line.
[0043] Without being limited to this example, at least one of
either the thickness in the front to rear direction or the
thickness in the vertical direction of the connecting part 341c of
the front side brace part 341 is to be smaller than the connecting
part 343c of the rear side brace part 343. Furthermore, the
cross-sectional area of the connecting part 341c of the front side
brace part 341 need not be smaller than the connecting part 343c of
the rear side brace part 343c. As long as the relationship of the
elastic recovery force is satisfied as described above, the shape
and size of the front side brace part 341 and the rear side brace
part 343 are not particularly restricted.
[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 5, of the left and right lateral
walls of the main body 32, the portion 323s that faces the
undersurface (the surface inside in the left-right direction) of
the pressed part 347 of the flexible brace 34 are further sunken to
the inside in the left and right direction in the portion 321s that
faces the undersurface of the midway part 345. Specifically, the
portion 323s that faces the under surface of the press part 347 has
a tapered surface that slants to the inside in the left-right
direction while moving to the rear. Without being limited to this,
a height difference or the like may be employed. By providing this
type of shape, the gap between the undersurface of the pressed part
347 and the main body 32 is larger than the gap between the
undersurface of the midway part 345 and the main body 32. According
to this, because the displacement distance of the pressed part 347
is sufficiently secured, it becomes possible to provide a design so
that the undersurface of the midway part 345 contacts the side
surface of the main body 32 earlier than the undersurface of the
pressed part 347 when the pressed part 347 is pressed. Note the
undersurface of the pressed part 347 need not contact the side
surface of the main body 32.
[0045] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the undersurface of the
extending part 343a of the rear side brace part 343 is positioned
slightly to the outside in the left and right direction in relation
to an extension line (dotted line in FIG. 5) where the undersurface
of the extending part 341a of the front side brace part 341 is
extended in that extending direction. Specifically, the under
surface of the extending part 343a of the rear side brace part 343
is at a slight angle to the extended line of the undersurface of
the extending part 341a of the front side brace part 341 and
extends in a direction to gradually separate from the main body 32
while moving rearward. Without being limited to this, a step may be
formed between the undersurface of the extending part 343a of the
rear side brace part 343 and the undersurface of the extending part
341a of the front side brace part 341. By doing this, the position
where the flexible brace 34 has the most bend can be slid forward
when the pressed part 347 is pressed. In other words, because the
undersurface of the flexible brace 34 is raised at the position of
the latching block 346 to face to the inside in the left and right
direction in the same manner as the pressing direction of the
pressed part 347, the acting force is easily transferred forward
when the pressed part 347 is pressed. Therefore, the relative front
side of the flexible brace 34 becomes easy to bend.
[0046] Meanwhile, when the undersurface of the extending part 343a
of the rear side brace part 343 is positioned slightly to the
inside in the left and right direction in relation to the extension
line (dotted line in FIG. 5) of the undersurface of the extending
part 341a of the front side brace part 341, the position where the
flexible brace 34 has the most bend can be slid rearward. In other
words, because the undersurface of the flexible brace 34 is raised
at the position of the latching block 346 to face to the outside in
the opposite left and right direction to the pressing direction of
the pressed part 347, the acting force is difficult to transfer
forward when the pressed part 347 is pressed. Therefore, the
relative rear side of the flexible brace 34 becomes easy to bend.
By doing this, the position where the flexible brace 34 has the
most bend can be adjusted in the front to rear direction and can be
made close to the latching block 346. It is preferred that the
position where the flexible brace 34 has the most bend is near to
the position of the latching block 346.
[0047] The female connector 2 and the male connector 3 configured
in this manner can be attached together as illustrated in FIGS.
1-2. Specifically, when the male housing 30 is inserted into the
female housing 20, first, the midway part 345 of the flexible brace
34 elastically deforms so as to get close to the main body 32 due
to the latching block 346 of the flexible brace 34 contacting the
back end 233 of the support fitting 23. Next, when the pressed part
347 of the flexible brace 34 and the rear part 323 of the main body
32 gets close to the rear edge 202 of the female housing 20, the
midway part 345 of the flexible brace 34 elastically recovers so as
to separate from the main body 32 and the latching block 346 formed
on the midway part 345 fits into the latching hole 23a formed in
the support fitting 23. By doing this, the attachment of the
connectors 2, 3 is complete, and the terminals 92 held in the male
housing 30 connect with the terminals not illustrated that are
housed in the female housing 20. Without being limited to this
example, the terminals 92 held in the male housing 30 may also have
direct contact with the terminals of the circuit substrate not
illustrated attached in the female connector 2.
[0048] According to the description given above for the flexible
brace 34 of the male housing 30 of the present embodiment, the
elastic recovery force in effect in the latching block 346 by the
front side brace part 341 is made to be smaller than the elastic
recovery force in effect in the latching block 346 by the rear side
brace part 343. Therefore, when inserting the male housing 30 into
the female housing 20, the insertion resistance is small and
insertion is easy even if the front side brace part 341 of the
flexible brace 34 contacts the back end 233 of the support fitting
23. Meanwhile, after the male housing 30 is inserted into the
female housing 20, the fit between the latching block 346 and the
latching hole 23a is maintained because a sufficient elastic
recovery force is exerted on the latching block 346 by both the
front side brace part 341 and the rear side brace part 343.
Therefore, the overall height of the connector 1 can be lower.
[0049] Further, when the male housing 30 inserts into the female
housing 20, the raised parts 325, 327 formed on the upper surface
of the male housing 30 are respectively inserted into the guide
groove 20a and the latching groove 20b formed on the upper wall of
the female housing 20. Also, a pair of edge parts 201 that forms
the guide groove 20a of the female housing 20 is arranged in the
left-direction (the deformation direction of the flexible brace
34), so as to interpose the raised part 325. Therefore, it becomes
possible to suppress the unintentional release of the fit between
the latching block 346 and the latching hole 23a even when a force
in a rotational direction in a plane that includes the front-rear
and left-right directions is exerted on the male housing 30 by, for
example, the wiring 91 that extends rearward from the male housing
20 being pulled laterally because the raised part 325 contacts
against the edge part 201 of the guide groove 20a. It is preferable
that the raised part 325 is formed more rearward than the latching
block 346 of the flexible brace 34 when suppressing release in this
manner. Further, the further the two raised parts 325 are separated
in the left-right direction, the more preferred the
configuration.
[0050] When extracting the male housing 30 from the female housing
20, the pressed part 347 formed on the flexible brace 34 of the
male housing 30 receives pressure in the direction to move closer
to the main body 32 by person's finger or the like. By doing this,
extraction of the male housing 32 is possible because the fit
between the latching block 346 and the latching hole 23a is
released. With the flexible brace 34 of the male housing 30 of the
present embodiment, the elastic recovery force in effect in the
latching block 346 by the rear side brace part 343 is larger than
the elastic recovery force in effect in the latching block 346 by
the front side brace part 341, and the surroundings of the press
part 347 is difficult to deform. Therefore, a sufficient reactive
force can be exerted even if the pressed part 347 receives an
unintentional external force.
[0051] While a preferred embodiment of the Present Disclosure is
shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art
may devise various modifications without departing from the spirit
and scope of the foregoing Description and the appended Claims.
* * * * *